Selecting the Right Water Feature for Your Garden

When contemplating a water feature for your garden it is important to reflect on the style of your landscaping and draw from this to select the right style of water feature to suit the surroundings. The wrong choice could result in your water feature looking out of place. Consider a contemporary minimalist garden with a Whisky Barrel Kit as the water feature!



Below we have prepared a list of common garden styles and some suggestions for incorporating water features into these gardens. This list is by no means exhaustive. Also, take into account that many gardens are a fusion of two or three garden styles.



Contemporary Garden

This style of garden is usually characterised by attention to detail such as the use of a single specimen plant. Simplicity, form and the clever use of light and space are fundamental to this style. Colours are used minimally to produce dramatic effects.



Suitable Water Features

Stainless Steel Features

Water Walls Clad (with Contemporary materials)

Canals and Rills (made from Contemporary materials)

Reflection Pools

Architectural Granite Features (Aquifer Columns or spheres)



Cottage Garden

Arguably the most enduring of all garden styles, this garden is characterised by mass planting of colourful flowers and herbs in well designed garden beds. Although the plant design is carefully structured it is designed to look natural and free-flowing. This style often incorporates places of interest to visit such as bench seats, arbours, and gazebos.



Suitable Water Features

Bird Baths

Wishing Wells

Natural Ponds

Statuary Features

Formal Ponds

Fountains



Formal Garden

A formal look in a landscape is typically achieved by placing plants to conform strictly to a geometric design theme. This style relies on the use of symmetry to draw the eye to focal points such as water features or sculpture. The use of hedging plants and topiaries is essential to achieve the formal look.



Suitable Water Features

Stone Fountains

Bird Baths

Reflection Pools

Spilling Urns / Pots

Fountain Sprayers

Geometric Ponds



Tuscan Garden

The rustic Italian garden seems to assimilate very well into the Australian landscape. Aged, muted colors intrinsic to Italian gardens are echoed in our landscape. A focus on Al Fresco dining and entertaining is essential to this style. Planting is often semi-formal – formal and includes topiaries and hedges.



Suitable Water Features

Spilling Urns

Wall Fountains

Stone Fountains

Classical Statuary

Tiled/Stone Water Walls

Wall Spitters



Japanese Garden

The Japanese garden has its emphasis in simplicity, control and thoughtful design. This garden must incorporate the careful use water as a focal point. Well placed, gracefully formed plants such as bamboos, grasses and flowering shrubs provide balance which is essential to this style. These gardens also use stone and sand to imitate the natural landscape. The Japanese garden is the ultimate meditation and relaxation.



Suitable Water Features

Deer Scarer (Shi Shi Odoshi)

Japanese Spill Basin (Tsukabi)

Large Containers with Fish and Water Lilies

Rock Geysers

Fish Ponds

Natural Ponds with Rock Waterfalls and Cascades



Xeriscape Garden

Xeriscape is a term derived from the Greek word 'xeros' meaning dry and from the word landscape, to form a new term for water conserving gardens. This style is increasing in popularity due to our dry climate. This garden often features both native and exotic species and is landscaped to minimise water use and to channel water to plants that have a higher requirement. Xeriscaping often draws from Cottage and Contemporary styles.



Suitable Water Features

Dry Creek Bed

Mill Stone Features (re-circulating)

Rock Geyser (re-circulating)

Granite Features

Natural Ponds (to provide an oasis for wildlife)



Tropical Gardens

The tropical garden is one for the plant lovers, these gardens are gaining in popularity due to the range of plant species now available to Australian gardeners. Tropical plants, densely planted, look their best in summer when we typically use our gardens. Characterised by the use of bold, lush and colourful foliage with spectacular flowers. This style provides a cooling oasis in the warmer months.



Suitable Water Features

Natural Ponds

Waterfalls

Creeks / Streams

Reflection Ponds

Spilling Pots/Urns

Contemporary Statuary

Water Walls



Australian Native Garden

This style of garden draws on the unique characteristics of Australian materials and the natural colours of Australia. Often rustic in style, the use of timber, stone and corrugated iron can be incorporated into the Australian garden. Modern Australian native plantings are often designed similar to a traditional cottage garden with the focus on the colour palette.



Suitable Water Features

Whisky/Wine Barrels

Wishing Wells

Mill Stone Features

Cobbled Creeks

Natural Ponds

Concrete Sinks/Troughs

Rock Geysers



Danielle Dickinson is an avid water feature enthusiast. She is a regular contributor to Gardening Magazines. Visit her website http://www.waterfeaturesonline.com.au for more information on building and maintaining any type of Water Feature as well as a huge range of water gardening products.

Funny Horoscope

Aries
March 21st - April 20th
It’s time to start giving people the benefit of the doubt and being more accepting of those who have different ideas to you. So the next time someone in your vicinity answers their mobile phone to the sound of the Crazy Frog ring tone, try to convince yourself that they are not an unoriginal, brain dead, twat with the sense of humour of a six year old.

Taurus
April 21st - May 21st
Taureans are notoriously quick tempered, have a tendency to over react and commonly have an intense dislike of noodle based hot snacks. Try and keep some perspective on the situation then when your partner comes home from Tesco while you are cutting some trees down in the garden with a chainsaw, when they proudly announce that they took advantage of a fantastic ‘20 for the price of one’ Pot Noodle promotion.

Gemini
May 22nd - June 21st
The most passionate, intense and sexually charged holiday romance is on the cards for you this month. And who would have thought that such physical ecstasy and fulfilment would have been likely when you first agreed to accompany the old people from the local home on their day trip to Bournemouth?

Cancer
June 22nd - July 22nd
An explosive argument with your partner results in both of you questioning your future together. If you want to save the relationship then consider the possibility that you may just have been wrong – Celebrity Love Island is not the greatest TV programme of all time.

Leo
July 23rd - August 23rd
A close friend plucks up the courage to confide in you about a highly embarrassing personal problem. Spice up what will otherwise be a terrible month for you by telling everyone that knows them and having a good laugh about it.

Virgo
August 24th - September 22nd
Cram in as much time as possible with your elderly relatives, watch your partner like a hawk and be extra vigilant when checking your testicles/breasts this month - and take some comfort from the fact that us astrologers are wrong two thirds of the time. Still not looking good though is it?

Libra
September 23rd - October 23rd
As Mars enters Uranus, what better time than to rush out and buy Marianne Faithfull’s greatest hits?

Scorpio
October 24th - November 22nd
Prepare yourself for a roller coaster ride of a month featuring a smattering of quite good news, some indifferent news, mild excitement, occasional minor boredom, regular bouts of eating, drinking and excretion, and constant respiration and bladder control. It’ll be a month to remember!

Sagittarius
November 23rd - December 21st
Help yourself to deal with some devastating news this month by purchasing the latest Brian McFadden album – and smashing the poxy thing to pieces. If only there was a way of getting to Brian himself.

Capricorn
December 22nd - January 20th
Beware of arguments at home boiling over and dividing the house as food levels start to run low. Make sure you give your all to the tasks and rewards will come your way, and to those around you. Always keep your pants on when showering and don’t let Maxwell’s ridiculous catchphrases enter your vocabulary. By the way, can anyone recommend a TV repair man? I can’t get anything else on my bloody telly other than E4.

Aquarius
January 21st - February 18th
You’re going to win the Lottery this month!! Yes, really! The rollover jackpot!! It’s what you’ve always dreamed of! A happening so unlikely, experienced by so few! It’s never, ever going to happen again in your lifetime, or that of many others! Enjoy it and don’t let splitting the money with the other 5 million Aquarians in the country, leaving you just £2, spoil it for you.

Pisces
February 19th - March 20th
It may well be time to broaden your working horizons and consider a career move – find yourself a job that’s going to inspire you, utilise your talents and give you the long term career you’ve been craving. Not only that but unknown to you, your workmates can’t stand the sight of you and love nothing more than ripping into you the moment you leave the room.

About the Author:
Lisa Mills writes articles for magazines and websites. You can view much of her work on her website www.24-7london.co.uk 24-7 London is an online entertainment guide to London.


Article Source: ArticleWorld.net

Attracting Wild Birds

As more land is used to accommodate the ever-growing human population, yards and city parks become important bird habitat. Diversified landscaping and feeding stations offer an oasis of resources in the middle of human domain. Feeding and watching birds gives families the opportunity to practice conservation right in their own yards. Children can learn and enjoy the wonders of nature right from the kitchen window. Children will be able to observe the hatching of young chicks and learn how many birds help control the insect population.

One fun aspect of feeding birds is learning what birds are visiting your backyard habitat. There are several good identification field guides such as National Geographic, Peterson's East & West and Birds of North America through which the wild birds can be identified. Birds are grouped by physical characteristics. It is fairly easy to distinguish a duck from a songbird by just looking at body shape and size, as well as the beak and feet shapes. These physical characteristics will help identify birds: size, body shape, colors, markings, beak shape, feet and wing shape in flight. Birds have a variety of calls. Good listeners can learn to tell the difference between "chickadee" and "cheerily - cheerio - cheeriup" calls of the Black-capped Chickadee and the American Robin. The most important element is the type of food offered to the wild birds. The widest variety of food sources ensures the widest variety of birds. Ensure that your bird feeder is kept clean. Old, moldy seed left in the feeder will not attract wild birds. Not only is the food type important, but the time period you feed and the consistency of feeding is very important as well.

Many people will only feed the birds in the winter months, which is when they need it most, however, by feeding throughout the spring and summer months you will attract the migratory birds returning from southern climates. In addition, by feeding in the spring and summer, parenting birds will have easy access to a food source for their young. Food like seeds, protein rich insects and worms, flies; birds love mosquitoes, spiders, aphids and ants. Do not kill all the bugs in your yard if you want birds. Flowers, shrubs and trees will encourage a rich insect life in your yard that will, in turn, provide necessary food for wild birds. If you want to attract hummingbirds to your garden, this can be accomplished in several ways. If you plant honeysuckle, common lilac (with purple flowers), red geraniums, nasturtium, red petunias, red salvia, coral bells, columbine, fuchsia and even scarlet runner beans, there is a good chance that you will see hummingbirds feeding among your flowers. Fresh, clean water made available year round is an important element of attracting wild birds.

The simplest and most readily available is a shallow birdbath. Birdbaths can be kept thawed even in winter by a birdbath heater. Most garden birds like a water source far enough from surrounding vegetation to offer surveillance against a surprise attack from squirrels, rats, big birds. If there is water falling or dripping making sound this will attract birds even more towards the backyard. Birds are dependent on flight for safety; they are most vulnerable when they are “grounded” to rest, feed or nest. To a bird, protection means staying both comfortable and safe. Again, a wide variety of plant vegetation and trees will find the best range of habitat for birds. The selection of plants and their arrangement in the landscape are important in making a bird feel at home. Protection from cold winds and driving rain allow birds to maintain body heat, and keep healthy. Birds that are exposed to cold, wet and windy weather are very vulnerable to exposure and resulting death. Without protective cover near by, wild birds will not frequent bird feeders even if they are the best feeders with the most desirable seed. Build nest and bird houses for birds to raise their families and provide them with shelter. When the birds will feel that there is a shelter provided to take care of the baby birds they will build their natural nests and start living and heave their family. If you specially want to attract humming birds then take care that your feeders are full because they will begin moving south as early as July but it will take several months for the birds to begin to reach the southern U.S. and they can use your feeders during the trip. They eat lots of protein in their diets too and that doesn't come from sugar feeders and they need insects too. It is important to leave your feeders up and full. Migrating birds need all the quick and easy nourishment they can find to sustain the incredible energy demands of migration. It is vital that hummingbirds fatten up for their extended trips, particularly those crossing the Gulf of Mexico. For several weeks after your regular summer hummingbirds have left your flowers and feeders, migrating birds could be quickly passing through your gardens unnoticed. Leaving your feeders up for at least three weeks after seeing your last hummingbird is essential.

Paul is Head of Training for a major UK Charitable Organisation with a wealth of experience in personal development, management development, e-learning and operational management. In addition he owns PK eBooks (www.pk-ebooks.co.uk) and has just published a series of Bird Watching eBooks which can be found at www.pk-ebooks.co.uk/birding_for_everyone.htm

Article Source: http://www.eArticlesOnline.com

Recent bug strips store name from long time eBay store users

A bug affecting store owners during the first week of May, allowed others to sign up new store names that were the same as store names already in use for a long time. AuctionBytes wrote an article that reports the bug has been fixed.

AuctionBytes also reported, how one seller documented the trouble they were having with eBay and their store name, on eBay's store discussion board.

Yes we are the ones who documented this on the store discussion board. We also hope eBay truly has this problem fixed. We would hate to see someone else have to go through this. You are definitely at their mercy with a problem like this.

Understanding Ebay's VeRO Program. by Kirsten Hawkins

'VeRO'? What on Earth is that? Well, it's a very scary eBay program that can get your auctions shut down, that's what it is.

VeRO stands for 'Verified Rights Owner'. It is the eBay policy that deals with complaints about your auctions from companies who own copyrights, patents or trademarks on the items you are selling. Unfortunately, it is often abused to remove items from eBay that are perfectly legitimate to resell, simply because the copyright owner doesn't want people getting their hands on them.

If the copyright of something you're selling is owned by one of eBay's 5,000 verified rights owners, be prepared for trouble. eBay have given these companies the right to remove any auction from eBay that they see fit, and, say eBay, "eBay cannot require the rights owner to provide you with the exact reason of the request to remove your listing". Worse, eBay may even suspend your account, or give your real-world contact details to the company in question.

Why Do eBay Do This?

Basically, they do it to avoid getting sued, or even getting threatened with being sued. There is a law called the DMCA (digital millennium copyright act) that means that eBay must either take these auctions down when it asked to or take full responsibility for them from that point on. eBay doesn't want to take any responsibility for your auctions.

It's not worth worrying too much about it - 99% of the VeRO program is aimed at stopping fake brand-name goods or pirated media being sold through eBay. Big companies also seem to get quite upset when eBay sellers take the company's ad copy, logos or professional pictures and use them for selling on eBay.

If you'd like to take a slightly patronising quiz about copyright to help you understand eBay's policy, go here: http://pages.ebay.com/help/tutorial/verotutorial/intro2.html.

So Who Are These Companies?

There's a complete list available here: http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/vero-aboutme.html. This list includes everything from the Microsoft and Adobe to Chanel and Nike, not to mention the RIAA (recording industry association) and MPAA (motion picture association). Most of the companies, understandably, deal in software, media or fashion.

eBay Say I Violated VeRO and I Want to Appeal.

Use the link at the bottom of this page: http://pages.ebay.com/help/confidence/vero-removed-listing.html. That'll get you to eBay's VeRO Seller Appeal Form, where you can put your case to them directly. You are supposed to take it up with the company that complained about you first, however - and sometimes you might find that they just back down, which makes the whole thing a lot easier.

If you have no luck getting any response from eBay by email, it's not really worth trying to phone them - you'll find they're most responsive if you use the 'Live Chat' feature or write them an actual, real-paper letter. You're best off being nice to eBay: they have absolutely no obligation, after all, to ever let you sell anything at all.

On a happier note, have you ever heard of eBay Anything Points? No? Well, you're not alone. The next email will explain what these little-used points can do for you.


About the Author
Kirsten Hawkins is an Ebay and internet auction enthusiast from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.auctionseller411.com/ for more great tips on how to make the most from Ebay and other online auctions.